THE   GREAT   VICTORY  AT,  MANASSAS   JUNCTION. 

GOD    THE    ARBITER   OF    BATTLES. 


PREACHED 


PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCI L 


GREENE  COUNTY,  ALABAMA, 


Oa  the    28th   day   of    July.    ivii. 


BY  RE  T.  IS.  WINN 


f 


[SHED     I*Y    REQ1 


iEuskalcosa,  2Ua. 


— »se$fi 


SERMON, 


1st.  Samuel,  17ih  Chapter  and  47th  verse— "And  all  this  assembly  shall 
know  that  the  Lord  sp.vcth  nut  with  sword  and  spear;  for  tho  battle  is  the 
Lord's." 

Of  tlie  numerous  enemies  with  whom  the  children  of  Israel  wero 
often  called  to  contend,  none  gave  them  more  trouble  than  the  PhiK 
istines,  their  nearest  neighbors.  For  hundreds  of  years  they  were  a 
source  of  incessant  annoyance  to  the  people  of  God.  Instead  of  re- 
maining at  home,  attending  to  their  own  affairs,  and  enjoying  their 
own  rights  and  privileges,  ihey  seemed  bent  on  the  political  and  com- 
mercial subjugation  of  the  Jews.  Many  were  the  bloody  and  dess 
Iruotive  wars  which  they  waged  against  this  people.  At  the  timo 
to  which  our  text  refers,  this  troublesome  enemy  had  again  entered 
into  a  contest  with  the  Israelites,  and  were  in  the  act  of  attempting, 
for  the  seventh  time,  their  ruin  as  a  nation. 

Saul  was  now  the  King  of  Israel,  to  whom  all  tho  people  were 
looking  for  protection.  But  it  was  reserved  for  David,  then  an  ob- 
scure individual,  and  a  mere  stripling  of  a  shepherd  boy  to  accem> 
plish  the  deliverance  of  tho  nation. 

It  is  to  this  war,  the  great  battle  which  soon  ensued,  the  victory 
which  followed,  the  rejoicings  and  thanksgivings  of  the  people,  with 
other  attendant  circumstances,  that  we  would  this  morning  invite 
your  attention. 

And  first,  we  will  consider  the  character  and  position  of  tho  two 
combattauts.  When  great  nations  are  engaged  in  war,  it  is  always  a 
matter  of  considerable  importance,  not  only  to  themselves,  but  to 
disinterested  spectators,  to  know  the  relative  position  of  the  parties 
in  the  contest. 

In  the  case  before  us,  we  have  tho  Philistines  on  the  one  side,  tho 
old  and  deadly  enemies  uf  tho  Jews — a  people,  who  for  hundreds  of 
years,  had  been  trying  to  destroy  them.  A  more  irreconcilable  and 
uncompromising  enemy,  no  |>et>ple  evt«r  had.  To  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  Pbilistiues,  was,  in  the  estimation  of  the  Jews,  a  very  great 
calamity. 

These  Philistines  wore  a  numerous,  wealthy  and  powerful  people. 
At  that  day,  their  commerce  is  said  to  have  been  equal,  if  not  supe- 
lior,  to  that  of  any  other  nation  in  the  world.  They  were  noted  for 
their  many  cities,  which  wero  well  peopled,  rich  and  powerful. — 
Along  the  whole  coast  on  that  part  of  tho  Mediterranean  where  their 
country  lay,  there  was  a  line  of  towns  running  from  North  to  South, 
greatly  distinguished  iu   history.     Arooui*  ihcui  were  Gaza,  Ashdod, 


Askalon,  <latli  and  Ekron.  It  was  evidently  in  their  power  greatly 
to  barrass  and  injure  any  people    whom  they  undertook   to  destroy 

This  people  were  now  engaged  in  a  war  entirely  unnecessary  and 
uncalled  for.  A  war  which  the  Israelites  had  not  provoked,  and 
which  they  would  gladly  have  prevented.  It  was  a  war  of  conquest 
and  subjugation.  A  war  to  gratify  animosity,  prejudice  and  passion. 
The  two  nations  had  been  enjoying  a  short  period  of  peace,  when 
suddenly  the  Philistines  are  found  arrayed  for  the  battle,  without  any 
reasons  assigned  for  so  doing.  We  simply  read:  "  Now  the  Pkilis- 
tines  gathered  together  their  armies  to  battle,  and  were  gathered  at 
Shochoh,  which  belongeth  to  Judah,  aud  pitched  between  Shochoh 
and  Azekah." 

This  army  of  the  Philistines  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  very  larga 
one.  Their  numbers  are  not  stated,  but  we  know  that  in  their  other 
war  with  Saul,  only  four  years  before,  they  had  thrown  over  3UO,000 
men  into  the  field.  And  as  they  were  burning  with  revenge,  and 
wished  to  retrieve  the*victory  then  lost,  we  may  conclude  that  they 
had  collected  a  mighty  host  for  this  war.  A  uumber  calculated  to 
overawe  and  crush  all  before  them. 

This  army  had  crossed  the  borders  of  Palestine,  and  were  now 
encamped  on  the  soil  of  Judea.  The  Jews  had  the  melancholy  satis- 
faction of  beholding  them  in  their  own  country,  at  their  very  doors; 
for  we  are  told  that  they  "  were  gathered  together  at  Shochoh  which 
belongeth  to  Judah.''  If  their  progress  was  not  speedily  arrested, 
thev  might,  in  a  few  days,  overrun  and  subdue  the  whole  country. 

These  Philistines  seemed  to  have  been  led  by  one,  in  whom  they 
placed  the  most  implicit  confidence,  Goliath  the  giant.  In  height  he 
was  six  cubits  and  a  span,  which  is  said  to  be  equal  to  eleven  feet 
and  four  inches.  This  giant  was  clad  from  head  to  foot  with  the 
heaviest  armor,  and  bore  the  most  formidable  weapons.  lie  had  a 
helmet  of  brass  upon  hia  head,  and'  ho  was  armed  with  a  coat  of 
mail  :  and  the  weight  of  the  coat  was  five  thousand  shekels  of  biass. 
And  he  had  greav«s  of  brass  upon  hia  legs,  aud  a  target  of  brass 
between  his  shoulders.  Aud  the  staff  of  his  spear  was  like  a  weaver's 
beam.,  and  his  spear's  head  weighed  six  hundred  shekels  of  iron  :  and 
one  bearing  a  shield  went  before  him."  With  such  a  champion  to 
lead  them,  the  Philistines  defied  the  armies  of  Israel,  lie  was  re- 
garded by  them  very  much  as  Gen.  Scoil  has  been  regarded  by  the 
people  of  the  North,  an  invincible  leader. 

But  we  must  not  neglect  to  add,  that  these  Philistines  were  engaged 
in  a  bad  cause,  and  were  actuated  by  wrong  motives.  They  had 
neither  truth  nor  justice  on  their  side.  The  God  of  the  Bible  was 
not  their  God.  They  were  warring  against  the  institutions  of  heaven, 
and  were  trying  to  overthrow  the^religion  of  the  Jews,  They  boasted 
of  their  strength,  defied  Israel,  and  virtually,  Israel's  God  also.  Such 
we  find  to  have  been  the  character  and  position  of  the  Philistines, 
one  of  the  parties  in  this  contest.  Surely,  no  good  could  be  expected 
o  f  such  a  people,  engaged  in  such  a  cause. 

Let  us  next  proceed  to  consider  the  character  and  position  of  the  Is- 
raelites, the  other  party  involved  in  this  contest.     Though  we  do  noi 


pretend  to  claim  for  them  immaculate  perfection,  though  they  were 
guilty  of  many  sins,  which  called  for  immediate  repentance  before 
God,  yet  were  they  right  as  to  the  principles  at  stake  in  the  present 
conflict.  They  were  engaged  in  a  war  not  of  their  own  seeking. — 
Their  country  being  invaded,  their  homes,  many  of  them  desolated, 
their  rights  assailed,  their  religion  threatened,  their  property  wasting, 
their  countrymen  being  killed,  and  their  national  existence  endangered, 
they  rallied  as  one  man  at  the  call  of  Saul,  their  King.  Acting 
purely  on  the  defensive,  they  wanted  to  hold  all  that  was  lawfully 
their  own,  neither  more  nor  less.  They  were  fighting  for  their 
rights,  their  liberties  and  their  religion.  They  were  struggling  to 
save  their  homes,  their  wives,  their  daughters,  and  their  sons.  A 
people  who  would  not  defend  themselves  under  such  circumstances, 
do  not  deserve  the  sympathy  of  either  man  or  (rod.  Their  position, 
we  think,  bears  a  marked  similarity  to  that  of  the  people  of  these 
Confederate  States.  We,  therefore,  of  all  others  on  the  earth,  can 
appreciate  the  feeling  of  the  Jews  as  they  flew  to  arms  and  gathered 
mound  the  banner  of  King  Saul  on  the  heights  about  Elah,  just  a* 
our  brave  soldiers  are  now  flocking  to  Manassas  Junction  and  other 
points  of  danger. 

Heboid,  my  hearers,  the  position  ot  these  two  opposing  armies  at 
this  critical  juncture  in  the  war!  Here  they  both  are  encamped  in 
view  of  each  other  with  but  a  small  intervening  space  between  them. 
"  And  the  Philistines  stood  on  a  mountain  on  the  one  side,  and  Israel 
stood  on  a  mountain  on  the  other  side;  and  there  was  a  valley  be«v 
tween  them."  Thus,  for  more  than  a  month,  they  continued  to  oc- 
cupy these  positions  without  coming  to  a  general  engagement.  The 
one  is  self-confident  and  defiant,  trusting  in  their  great  champion, 
Goliath.  The  other  is  moving  prudently,  and  secretly  calling  on 
God  for  help.  The  result  of  the  pending  struggle,  who  can  foretell? 
Such  was  the  state  of  things  at  this  stage  of  the  war. 

We  call  your  attention  in  the  second  placo,  to  the  battle  which  ul- 
timately ensued  between  these  two  armies  now  encamped  on  opposito 
mountains.  For  a  time  the  contest  was  delayed.  Forty  days  inter- 
vened and  no  blow  was  struck.  An  insuperable  difficulty  seemed  to 
be  in  the  way  of  the  Israelites.  Goliath,  the  giant,  held  in  terror  the 
whole  camp  of  the  Hebrews.  "  And  there  went  out  a  champion  out 
of  the  camp  of  the  Vhilislines,  Goliath  of  Gath.  And  he  stood  and 
cried  unto  the  armies  of  Israel,  and  said  unto  them,  choose  you  a 
man  for  you,  and  let  him  come  down  to  me.  Give  me  a  mac  that 
we  may  tight  together.  I  defy  the  armies  of  Israel  this  day."  Here 
then  was  the  trouble.  Where  could  one  be  found  able  and  willing 
to  cope  with  such  a  monster?  "Not  even  the  valiant  Saul  nor  his 
daring  son  Jonathan,  durst  uudertake  the  adventure."  The  king  was 
so  much  troubled,  that  he  offered  large  inducements  to  the  man  who 
would  accept  of  the  giant's  challenge.  "And  it  shall  be,  that  the 
man  who  killeth  him,  the  king  will  enrich  with  great  riches,  and 
will  give  him  his  daughter,  and  make  his  father's  house  tree  in  Isra- 
el." Still  no  one  offered  himself.  The  cause  of  Israel  languished. 
Thing*  were  be  'earance. 


Now  there  lived  at  this  time  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem-Judah, 
an  old  man  by  name  Jesse,  who  had  three  sons  in  tho  army  of  Saul. 
David,  the  youngest,  was  retained  at  home  "  to  feed  his  father's 
sheep."  Being  naturally  anxious  about  the  fate  of  his  sons  in  the 
camp,  the  old  man  one  day  said  to  David,  "  take  now  for  thy  breth- 
ren an  ephah  of  this  parched  corn,  and  those  ten  loaves,  and  these 
ten  cheeses,  and  run  to  the  camp,  and  look  how  thy  brethren  fare, 
and  take  their  pledge.  And  David  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and 
went,  aa  Jesse  had  commanded  him,"  and  reached  the  place  just  in 
time  to  engage  in  the  fight  and  save  Israel  a  most  disastrous  defeat. 
One  hour  later,  and  the  battle  would  have  been  lost.  We  are  told, 
"And  he  came  to  the  trench  as  the  host  was  going  forth  to  the  fight, 
and  shouted  for  the  battle.  For  Israel  and  the  Philistines  had  put 
the  battle  in  array,  army  against  array."  A  few  moments  more,  and 
the  terrible  clash  of  arms  would  come.  Having  dispatched  his  busi- 
ness with  his  brethren,  David  began  at  once  to  inquire  into  the  stale 
of  things  then  existing  between  the  two  armies.  Ascertaining  that  the 
dread  of  the  giant  had  paralyzed  every  arm,  so  that  defeat  and  ruin 
seemed  to  await  the  Israelites,  he  boldly  stepped  forward  and  accept- 
ed the  challenge  of  Goliath  ;  notwithstanding  the  opposition  ho  met 
with  from  Eliab,  his  eldest  brother,  who  accused  hira  of  being  actu- 
ated by  improper  motives.     Even  Saul,  who  had  been  so  anxious  to 

find  1 1  man  TDl^ff^^ePP^^Vte^h^me^^t^Pl^^  hiu?  .fr0,r"  ™" 

dertaking  the  contest.  "  rhou  art  not  able  to  go  against  this  Philis- 
tine to  fight  witririifiQIfirWitJu  lajinKiinfiJ  jmm\  and  ha  a  man  of 
war  from  his  yo^eB^^nhjSjCOii^ge  in  the  righteous- 
ness  of  his  cause,  strong  fu  the  nope -or  obtaining  lielp  from  Gou,  and 
determined  to  wipe  away  the  reproach  from  Israel,  and  save  his 
country,  he  persisted  in  his  determination,  and  went  forth  at  once  to 
meet  the  giant  in  the  valley  below. 

It  was  a  critical  moment  for  millions  of  the  human  family,  Tho 
fate  of  nations  hung  in  the  balance.  All  gazed  in  breathless  sus- 
pense on  the  combatants  as  they  stood  face  to  face  in  sight  of  both 
armies.  None  can  describe  the  emotions  that  must  have  swelled  the 
bosoms  of  thousands  of  anxious  spectators.  Behold  them,  aud  ob- 
serve the  contrast  1  There  is  great  Goliath,  more  than  eleven  feet 
high,  clad  from  head  to  foot  with  a  heavy  armor,  bold  and  defiant, 
looking  with  disdain  upon  David,  and  threatening  to  "  give  his  flesh 
unto  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  to  the  beasts  of  the  field."  There  is 
David  on  the  other  hand,  a  mere  youth,  only  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  of  a  moderate  stature,  fair  and  ruddy,  with  a  mild  but  calm 
and  determined  expression  of  countenance,  having  only  a  staff  in  his 
hand,  a  shepherd's  bag,  a  sling,  and  a  few  smooth  stones  out  of  tho 
brook  for  his  weapons.  Hear  his  words  and  observe  the  secret  of  his 
success.  "  Thou  comest  to  me  with  a  sword,  and  with  a  spear,  and 
with  a  shield ;  but  I  come  to  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
the  God  of  the  armios  of  Israel  whom  thou  hast  defied.  And  this 
assembly  shall  know  that  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  sword  and  spear  : 
for  the  battle  is  the  Lord's,  and  lie  will  give  you  into  our  hands." 
With  these  words,  he  hurled  a  stone  from  his  sling  at  the  giant, 

http://www.archive.org/details/greatvictoryatmaOOwinn 


pierced  Lis  forehead,  tbe  only  exposed  part  of  liis  body,  anil  felled 
him  to  the  earth.  Then  with  a  shout  that  almost  shook  the  moun« 
tains  around,  did  all  Israel,  to  a  mau,  pitch  into  the  fight,  and  carry 
carnage  and  destruction  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  Blood  flowed 
as  was  never  before  nor  since  seen  in  the  valley  of  Elah.  The  Phil- 
istines, surprised  and  cast  down  in  heart  at  the  fall  of  their  champi- 
on, became  panic  stricken,  and  fled  in  the  utmost  disorder  toward 
their  own  country.  Pursued  by  the  Israelites  to  the  gates  of  their 
cities,  they  perished  by  thousands  on  the  wayside.  "  And  the  woun- 
ded of  the  Philistines  fell  down  by  the  way  to  Shaaraim,  even  unto 
Gath  and  unto  Ekron."  And  the  children  of  Israel  returned  from 
chasing  after  the  Philistines,  and  they  "spoiled  their  tents."  Thus  en- 
ded the  great  battle  which  for  forty  days  had  been  so  much  dreaded. 
God  had  interposed,  sent  liis  servant  David  at  the  last  moment  to 
their  assistance,  and  thus  saved  the  country.  It  was  tbe  right  man, 
at  the  right  time,  and  in  the  right  place  ;  showing  the  truth  of  our 
text,  that  "  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  spear  and  sword  ;  for  the  battle 
is  the  Lord's."'  lie  can  use  any  means,  however  simple  and  insignifi- 
cant, to  accomplish  his  purposes. 

The  third  and  last  point  to  which  we  would  call  your  attention  is,  the 
manner  in  which  the  minds  of  the  people  at  large  were  afiected  by  the 
news  of  this  great  victory.  We  have  noticed  the  gloom  and  distress 
which  for  months  hung  over  the  public  mind.  We  have  seen  the 
danger  to  which  the  whole  country  was  exposed.  We  have  observed 
the  consternation  produced  bv  the  threats  of  the  giant  Goliatb.  But 
now  that  the  battle  has  been  fought,  the  victory  won,  and  the  power 
of  the  enemy  crushed,  we  hear  of  nothing  but  gratitude,  joy,  and 
rejoicing  throughout  the  whole  country.  A  happier  people  for  the 
time  being  never  lived.  Noue  but  those  who  have  passed  through 
similar  scenes  can  appreciate  their  feelings.  Sometime  alter  the  vic- 
tory, Saul,  accompanied  by  David,  went  on  a  triumphant  progress 
through  the  cities  of  Israel  that  lay  next  to  him,  to  receive  the  con^ 
gratulalious  of  the  people.  Aud  when  he  made  his  entry  into  any 
place,  it  is  said,  that  thy  women,  who  were  represented  more  or  less 
on  the  battle-field  by  their  fathers,  husbauds,  sons  and  brothers, 
"came  out  of  all  the  cities  of  Israel,  singing  and  dancing,  to  meet 
king  Saul  with  tabrets,  with  joy,  and  with  instruments  of  music. 
And  the  women  auswered  one  another  as  they  played,  and  said,  Saul 
hath  slain  his  thousands,  and  David  his  ten  thousands." 

And  now,  my  brethren,  my  countrymen,  one  and  all,  in  applying 
the  subject  which  we  have  been  discussing  to  the  occasion  which 
called  us  together  this  mcrning,  let  me  ask,  of  what  have  you  been 
reminded  by  the  events  just  narrated  to  this  congregation  ?  Llare 
you  not  observed  a  striking  coincidence  between  the  situation  of  tho 
Israelites  in  their  contest  with  the  Philistines  and  the  situation  of  the 
people  of  this  Confederacy  in  their  present  struggle  with  the  Norths 
em  Government  ?  The  Philistines  were  the  old  and  deadly  enemy 
of  the  Jews ;  so,  we  think,  the  North  has  long  felt  and  acted  toward 
us.  The  Philistines  were  a  numerous,  wealthy  and  powerful  people, 
possessing  numy  commercial  cities;  so  is  it  this  day  with  the  North, 


The  Philistines  waged  a  war  against  the  .lows  provoked  by  them* 
selves;  so,  as  we  believe,  the  North  is  now  doing  unto  its.  The  PhiU 
istinea  invaded  the  tlie  country  of  Judea,  plauting  their  unhallowed 
io.'t  on  tlie  sacred  hills  of  Canaan;  so  has  the  North  not  waited  to 
be  assailed  by  US,  but  has  for  months  encamped  on  the  soil  of  the 
South.  The  Philistines  were  backed  by  a  powerful  army;  so  is  tho 
North  now  gathering  to  its  help  hundreds  of  thousands.  Tho  Phil- 
istines placed  unbounded  confidence  in  their  champion  Goliath  of 
Gath;  so  has  the  North  from  tho  beginning  of  this  contest  relied 
Very  much  on  tho  military  genius  and  prowess  of  Gen,  Scott,  their 
great  leader.  Tho  armies  of  tho  Philistines  for  forty  days  were  en* 
camped  in  close  proximity  to  those  of  Israel;  so  has  it  been  for  about 
the  same  space  of  tirao  with  the  armies  of  the  Federalists  and  tho 
Confederates.  It  reminds  us  of  Alexandria  and  Fairfax,  where  their 
extended  lines  almost  met,  and  tho  roll  of  the  drum  could  be  heard 
from  the  one  to  the  other.  The  army  of  the  Philistines  was  met  and 
overthrown  L>y  Israel;  the  army  of  Federalists  has  just  received  a 
terrible  defeat  from  the  Confederates  at  Manassas  Juuction.  Tho 
parallel  between  the  two  is  so  striking,  tho  coincidence  is  so  romarka* 
Lie,  that  I  have  been  amazed  at  the  fact,  in  my  investigation  of  the 
.subject.  It  seems  to  me  lhat  there  is  meaning  in  all  this.  Wo  hold 
it  up  for  your  consideration. 

But  to  go  more  into  particulars,  we  would  remind  you,  that  a  lit* 
tie  over  a  month  ago,  the  President  of  this  Confederacy,  feeling  the 
great  responsibility  on  us  in  this  solemn  and  momentous  movement, 
believing  in  the  righteousness  of  our  cause,  and  conscious  of  entire 
dependence  on  "the  God  of  battles"  for  success,  appointed  the  13th  of 
June,  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and  prayer  throughout  this 
entire  Confederacy.  We  met  here,  and  in  tho  neighboring  church 
of  our  Methodist  brethren,  in  largo  and  solemn  assemblies,  as  did  the 
people  in  almost  every  part  of  the  land.  Wo  tried  to  humble  our* 
selves  before  God,  and  to  repent  of  all  our  sins,  both  individual  and 
national.  We  asked  forgiveness  for  tho  past,  and  implored  assistance 
for  the  future.  That  clay  will  long  be  remembered  by  tho  people  of 
this  generation.  It  was  not  a  vain  and  useless  ceremony.  There  is 
efficacy  in  faith,  repentance  and  prayer.  Events  rolled  rapidly  on. — 
Large  armies  have  been  gathering  on  both  sides,  and  numerous  con- 
flicts have  occurred,  which,  in  the  main,  have  been  wonderfully  favor- 
able to  us.  Within  the  last  forty  clays,  the  two  opposing  armies  have 
been  approaching  each  other  in  the  North  of  Virginia  as  we  havo  al- 
ready reminded  you.  We  could  almost  say  "the  Federalists  stood  on 
a  mountain  on  one  side,  and  tho  Confederates  stood  on  a  mountain 
on  the  other  side  :  and  there  was  a  valley  between  them."  It  wa9 
evident  that  a  great  battle,  which  might  decide  the  fate  of. the  parties 
concerned,  was  fast  approaching.  It  was  now,  as  in  tho  days  of  Israel, 
that  the  hopes  and  perhaps  the  destiny  of  millions,  hung  suspended  in 
the  balance.  A  turn  either  way  would  produce  great  results.  At 
length,  on  the  7. 8th  of  July,  the  cr  <  il  our  position  at  Bull's 
Run,  and  were  three  times  repulsed  win  This  was 

joy  enough  for  one  ' 


low.  But  not  content  with  this  unsuccessful  trial  of  their  valor,  after 
being  reinforced  by  large  numbers  from  Washington  and  other  places, 
and  headed,  as  we  are  informed,  by  Gen.  Scott,  the  great  Goliath  of 
the  North,  they  renewed  the  contest  at  Manassas  Junction  a  few  days 
afterward.  Little  did  we  think,  as  we  assembled  on  Sunday  last,  iu 
our  several  places  of  worship,  aud  unitedly  sent  up  our  prayers  to 
God  for  the  success  of  our  cause,  that  our  fathers,  husbands,  sons  and 
brothers  were  pouring  out  their  life's  blood  on  the  battle  field  in  de- 
fence of  our  rights,  our  liberty  and  our  religion.  It  was  an  awful 
day.  Such  a  strife,  the  people  of  America  never  witnessed.  It  was 
steel  against  steel,  and  sword  against  sword.  Liberty  and  tyranny, 
truth  and  error,  right  and  wrong,  Christianity  and  infidelity,  Southern 
valor  and  Northern  hate,  tried  their  strength  against  each  other. 

The  public  journals  inform  us,  that  for  many  hours  the  contest 
raged  with  varied  aud  doubtful  success.  At  length,  an  important 
portion  of  the  army  being  almost  overpowered  by  numbers,  evinced 
signs  of  giving  way  and  retreating  before  the  enemy.  It  was  a  criti- 
cal hour.  O  for  a  David  to  crush  the  giant  aud  his  legions  !  A  few 
moments  more  and  all  might  bo  lost.  But  God  hears  prayer.  In 
answer  to  our  petitions  on  the  13th  of  July,  in  answer  to  the  many 
prayei-3  sent  ou  high  since  the  beginning  of  our  troubles,  He  interpo- 
sed in  the  needful  hour  and  sent  to  the  aid  of  our  struggling  soldiers, 
Jefferson  Davis,  our  President,  whom  for  that  day  at  least,  we  take  the 
liberty  of  denominating  the  David  of  the  South,  The  iron  horse,  which 
for  hours  had  been  speeding  its  way  from  liichmond,  at  last  landed 
its  rider  safely  on  the  battle  field.  Inspired  by  the  presence  of  such  a 
man  and  led  ou  by  the  genius  and  valor  of  Beauregard  and  Johnston, 
the  battle  was  renewed  with  redoubled  energy.  A  few  hours  more  and 
the  victory  was  won,  and  as  I  verily  believe,  the  Confederacy  has  been 
saved.  Young  David  of  the  South  has  crushed  great  Goliath  of  the 
North.  If  the  battle  was  severe,  the  victory  has  been  most  complete. 
We  ''spoiled  their  tents." 

And  to-day,  my  countrymen,  we  meet  here  as  christians,  and  as 
patriots,  by  the  recommendation  of  our  Congress,  not  to  abuse  our  en- 
uuemies,  not  exult  over  their  loss,  not  to  boast  of  our  own  valor,  but 
to  give  thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  the  great  victory  which  He,  and 
lie  alone,  has  enabled  us  to  achieve.  We  take  none  of  the  honor, 
none  of  the  praise  to  ourselves.  The  whole  work,  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end,  was  the  work  of  God.  "And  all  this  assembly  shall  know 
that  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  sword  and  spear  :  for  the  battle  is  the 
Lord's."  No  truth  is  more  clearly  and  forcibly  inculcated  in  the 
Scriptures  than  this,  that  God  is  the  Arbiter  of  the  battles  of  men. 
"Counsel  is  mine  and  sound  wisdom.  I  am  understanding.  I  have 
strength.  By  Me  kings  reign,  and  princes  decree  justice.  The  race 
is  not  to  the  swift,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong.  The  horse  is  pre- 
pared against  the  day  of  battle,  but  safety  is  of  the  Lord.  Some 
trust  in  chariots,  some  trust  in  horses,  but  we  will  remember  the 
name  of  the  Lord  our  God."  I  say  again,  that  all  the  praise  and 
glory  of  this  great  victory  belong  to  God,  aud  to  Cod  alone.  We 
take  nouo  of  it  to  ourselves.     ILj  gave  us  the  mcu  to  fk'ht  this  battle. 


lie  nerved  them  foi  llie  conflict.  lie  sustained  them  m  ilio  Leal  oi 
the-  strife,  lio  struck  panic  into  the  Imam  of  tho  enemy.  Ho  achiev- 
ed lor  us  the  victory,      We   do   therefore,  this  day,  in    behalf  of  the 

cflioers  of  this  government,  in  behalf  of  llie  people  of  ibis  Confede- 
racy, in  behalf  of  coming  generations,  and  in  the  name  of  religion, 
liberty  and  humanity,  publicly  return  our  thanks  to  Almighty  God 
lor  what  he  has  enabled  us  to  do.  "Sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song. 
Sing  uulo  the  Lord  with  a  harp,  and  willi  the  voice  of  a  psalm.  Let 
the  Hoods  clap  their  hands,  |«t  the  hills  be  joyful  together  before  the 
Lord,  for  He  hath  done  marvellous  things.  Llis  right  hand,  aud  ilia 
holy  aim  hath  gotten  JJim  the  victory." 

L'ut  think  not,  my  hearers,  when  you  shall  have  finished  the  servi- 
ces of  this  day,  that  you  will  have  done  your  whole  duty  iir  the  mat- 
ter before  us.  liemember,  that  prayer  and  praise  go  together.  Wo 
would  just  here  remind  ycu  of  your  great  danger.  Success  often 
makes  men  proud  and  selfconfideut.  beware  that  you  do  not,  in  tho 
least  degree,  relax  your  efforts  at  the  Throne  of  Grace.  Indulge  not 
the  delusive  thought  that  you  have  nothing  more  to  do.  The  call  for 
earnest  aud  incessant  prayer  is  louder  than  ever.  There  are  indica- 
tions that  the  strife  has  just  fairly  begun.  The  thiist  of  the  enemy 
lor  blood  is  waxing  stronger  and  stronger.  We  lear  there  are  other 
terrible coufiiets  aliead.  l'ut  not  your  trust  in  men.  But  pray  with- 
out ceasing,  that  God  may  not  forsake  us  in  this  our  hour  of  need. 
1'rny  that  tor  the  take  of  his  Son,  Jesus  Christ,  who  alone  has  tho 
[>ower  to  (jiiell  the  raging  storm  of  humau  passion,  that  lie  would 
enable  us  to  continue  triumphant  to  tho  end,  and  that  Ho  may  soou 
secure  to  us  an  honorable  and  a  permanent  peace. 

One  word  more,  and  we  shall  have  done.  Our  joy  to-day,  alas  !  is 
not  unmixed  with  giief.  This  great  and  glorious  victory  has  cost  us 
much.  Many  a  noble  son  of  the  South  has  fallen  a  sacrifice  in  vin- 
dication of  his  country's  rights.  'Tn  the  midst  of  our  rejoicings  over 
the  result  of  the  conflict,  let  i"s  drop  a  tear  to  the  memory  of  those 
noble  men  who  peiished  at  the  post  of  duty  on  the  battle  field.  Let 
us  not  forget,  at  the  same  time,  to  sympathize  with  the  families  who 
have  been  to  suddenly  bereaved."  Let  us  adopt,  as  our  own,  that  Ues- 
olutiou  of  our  Congress,  which  commends  them  to  our  sympathy  and 
assistance.  Lot,  us  bear  the  Ci»ses  of  the  many  widows  and  orphans 
thus  left  without  a  husband  and  father,  to  the  Throne  of  Grace,  and 
beseech  for  them  the  care  and  protection  of  Jesus,  the  friend  of  the 
ofllicted. 


peannlipe® 
PH8.5 


